Senior Citizens

Help with navigating the Medicare health and drug plans is now available at Senator Koehler's Pekin satellite office. Please contact Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor Tammy Hyatt at (309) 369-1648 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make an appointment for assistance. The satellite office is in the Pekin Township building at 420 Elizabeth St., Pekin, IL 61554.

Illinois Department on Aging Benefit Access (formerly Circuit Breaker) applications can now be filed online at www.illinois.gov/aging. Before you begin filling out the application, be sure to have the following information ready:

Social Security number, date of birth

Last year's annual income. Proof must be with a US1040 or the actual statement from each agency. Examples are from Social Security-verification of benefit statement, Pension-1099, Wages-W-2's, Interest/Dividends statement from bank or financial company

If disabled, proof of disability is also needed with a Schedule A form filled out by a doctor or if receiving Social Security, a letter stating the date the disability started. The letter must include the word disability with the date.

Check your Benefit Access application status

After you fill out your application online, please allow at least three to four weeks for processing. Then feel free to click on the above link to see if your application has been processed. The Department on Aging will notify you of any changes that need to be made.

If you have additional Benefit Access questions, please contact your local Department on Aging office: